Virgil van Dijk Liverpool transfer: World record fee up to $129m for Southampton defender

LIVERPOOL have just smashed the world record transfer fee for a defender, finally luring a Netherlands and Southampton star in one of the Premier League’s longest-running signing sagas after a failed off-season bid.

LIVERPOOL is breaking the world transfer record for a defender by signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in a $129 million move.

Following Liverpool’s long-running pursuit of the 26-year-old Netherlands international, Southampton announced on Wednesday that it accepted the record fee ahead of the January transfer window opening.

“Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player,” Van Dijk wrote on Instagram alongside a picture holding a jersey of the club he will join on January 1.

“Today is a proud day for me and my family as I join one of the biggest clubs in world football!

“I can’t wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time in front of the Kop and will give everything I have to try and help this great club achieve something special in the years to come.”

He could make his debut in the FA Cup third round tie against Everton on January 5.

The transfer fee of 70 million pounds ($120.6 million) could reach 75 million pounds ($129.2 million) depending on Van Dijk’s achievements at Anfield. The deal eclipses the previous highest amounts paid for defenders who are rarely in contention for the top awards in football dominated by goal-scorers.

English Premier League leader Manchester City paid around 50 million pounds ($86m) each for Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker in the summer transfer window. While Van Dijk becomes the world’s most expensive defender, Neymar still holds the title of the game’s costliest player after joining Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($340m) in August.

A fee of £75 million would also be level with Romelu Lukaku as the second most expensive transfer in Premier League history, behind only Manchester United’s £90 million ($155m) purchase of Paul Pogba.

Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring a goal for Southampton.Source:AFP

Liverpool is devastating going forward, with the “Fab Four” attack of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah helping the team amass a 46-goal haul that only City has eclipsed.

But Jurgen Klopp’s team has conceded 23 goals in 20 games - more than any rival in the top five - including three in last week’s 3-3 draw at Arsenal after a two-goal lead was thrown away.

Van Dijk hoped to join Liverpool in August after handing in a transfer request but Southampton stood its ground. Van Dijk, though, will gain the new challenge he had been seeking on Monday.

Virgil van Dijk: Bound for Anfield.Source:AFP

“I will always be indebted to the club for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and despite a difficult last few months I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Saints and have made friends for life at the club,” Van Dijk said. “Thank you for everything.”

Liverpool is fourth in the Premier League, 17 points behind leader Man City, but the five-time European champions are through to the Champions League last 16 where they will play Porto in February.

Van Dijk is just the latest player to move from Southampton to Liverpool: Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Sadio Mane have all made the same switch in recent years.

WORLD’S TOP 10 TRANSFERS

1. Neymar, Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, 2017, £200.6 million

2. Ousmane Dembele, Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, 2017, £96.8m

3. Paul Pogba, Juventus to Manchester United, 2016, £89m

4. Gareth Bale, Tottenham to Real Madrid, 2013, £85.3m

5. Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United to Real Madrid, 2009, £80m

6. Gonzalo Higuain, Napoli to Juventus, 2016, £75.3m

7. Romelu Lukaku, Everton to Manchester United, 2017 £75m

= Virgil van Dijk, Southampton to Liverpool, 2018, £75m

9. Luis Suarez, Liverpool to Barcelona, 2014, £65m

10. James Rodriguez, Monaco to Real Madrid, 2014, £63m

Notes: Kylian Mbappe, £160 million move from Monaco to PSG to be completed in June, after current loan spell Neymar, 2013 transfer from Santos to Barcelona originally reported as £48.6 million, but later revealed to be higher after court caSE